Vehicle bed storage box

Abstract

A collapsible storage device includes a first panel and a second panel, with one end of the first panel rotatably secured to one wall of a vehicle bed. One end of the second panel is rotatably secured to the opposite end of the first panel. The device has a deployed or storage position in which the first panel is generally horizontal and the second panel is generally vertical so that the two panels, in cooperation with the existing walls of the bed, form an enclosed container. The device also has a folded position in which the second panel is folded against the first panel, and the first panel together with the second is folded against a wall of the vehicle bed. The collapsible storage device has an arrangement for locking the device in the deployed and/or the folded position. Alternatively, the device may have an arrangement means for locking the two panels together during deployment and/or retraction, or the device may be interposed between two storage bins along a wall of the vehicle bed. A track or tracks may be provided on one or both sides of the storage device to coact with a track follower on one or both sides of the second panel to provide easier collapse or deployment of the device.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A collapsible vehicle bed storage assembly mountable on a vehicle having a generally horizontal storage bed surrounded by a front wall, a first sidewall, a second sidewall and a back wall, said assembly comprising: 
       a first panel having an outer face and inner face, a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side, said first end of said first panel secured adjacent to one of said walls so that said first panel is rotatable about a generally horizontal first axis; and  
       a second panel having an outer face, an inner face, a first end, a second end, a first side, and a second side, said first end of said second panel secured to said second end of said first panel so as to be rotatable about a generally horizontal second axis;  
       said assembly having  
       a collapsed position in which said first panel and said second panel are generally vertically oriented against one of said walls and depend from said first axis and said inner face of said first panel and said inner face of said second panel face one another, and  
       a deployed position in which said first panel is generally horizontal and said second panel is generally vertical, said outer face of said first panel facing outward away from said storage bed and said outer face of said second panel facing outward away from said first panel.  
     
     
       2. The assembly as defined in claim  1 , further comprising means for locking said assembly in the deployed position. 
     
     
       3. The assembly as defined in claim  1 , further comprising means for locking said assembly in the collapsed position. 
     
     
       4. The assembly as defined in claim  1 , wherein said first end of said first panel is secured along said upper portion of said front wall directly behind a passenger compartment of said vehicle. 
     
     
       5. The assembly as defined in claim  1 , wherein said assembly when in the collapsed position exposes substantially the entire horizontal surface of the vehicle storage bed to the placement of loads directly upon it. 
     
     
       6. The assembly as defined in claim  1 , wherein said first end of said first panel is rotatably attached to a top surface of said front wall. 
     
     
       7. The assembly as defined in claim  1 , wherein said first panel and said second panel form an interior angle of less than or equal to 150° when in said deployed position. 
     
     
       8. The assembly as defined in claim  1 , wherein said first panel and said second panel enclose a volume which is substantially equal to the height of said first and second sidewalls of said vehicle storage bed, along substantially the entire length and width of said volume. 
     
     
       9. A collapsible vehicle bed storage assembly mountable on a vehicle having a generally horizontal storage bed surrounded by a front wall, a first sidewall, a second sidewall and a back wall, said assembly comprising: 
       a first panel having an outer face and inner face, a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side, said first end of said first panel secured to one of said walls so as to be rotatable about a generally horizontal first axis;  
       a second panel having an outer face, and inner face, a first end, a second end, a first side, and a second side, said first end of said second panel secured to said second end of said first panel so as to be rotatable about a generally horizontal second axis; and  
       at least one track mounted in the vehicle storage bed on one side of the assembly and at least one track follower mounted on the corresponding side of said second panel, said track and said follower cooperating to control the deployment of said assembly;  
       said assembly having a collapsed position in which said first panel and said second panel are generally vertical and said inner face of said first panel and said inner face of said second panel face one another, and a deployed position in which said first panel is generally horizonal and said second panel is generally vertical, said outer face of said first panel facing outward away from said storage bed and said outer face of said second panel facing outward away from said first panel.  
     
     
       10. The assembly as defined in claim  9 , wherein said track is curved. 
     
     
       11. A method for enclosing a volume of a vehicle bed having a generally horizontal storage bed surrounded by a front wall, a first sidewall, a second sidewall and a back wall, said method comprising the steps of: 
       rotating an assemble comprising a first panel and a second panel folded together, the first panel being secured adjacent to one of said walls at a first end of the first panel so as to be rotatable about a generally horizontal first axis, the second panel being secured to a second end of the first panel opposite the first end so as to be rotatable about a generally horizontal second axis, from a generally vertical position in which said first panel and said second panel are positioned against one of said walls and depend from said first axis;  
       rotating the second panel away from the first panel so that the first panel and the second panel are no longer folded together; and  
       placing an end of the second panel against the vehicle bed with the second panel in a substantially vertical position and the first panel in a substantially horizontal position.